Carrefour expected to open its first Armenian store in summer

YEREVAN, January 31. / ARKA /. French Carrefour retailer, the second largest in the world after Wal-Mart, is expected to set up its first Yerevan store at Yerevan Mall in summer, according to a report on Yerevan Mall’s official website on Facebook.

Carrefour was originally expected to open its first shop at Dalma Garden hypermarket in Yerevan owned by a Russia-based Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan last year shortly after the French retail giant launched its store in neighbouring Georgia in September 2012.

However, the chain's entry into the Armenian market was reportedly held back by a local wealthy businessman Samvel Alexanyan, controlling the lucrative imports of food and fast-moving consumer goods to the country.

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan promised in 2013 to do everything possible to ensure that Carrefour was able to open its store in Armenia. -0-